Not as old as the tradition of men playing women,
but considerably older than Pantomime, is the tradition of the 'Principal Boy'. The
romantic hero of every pantomime story being played by an attractive lady in a short tunic
was at its height in the late Victorian era, surviving to today.

Today you will still find girls playing boys,
but not as frequently as in the past. Since Norman Wisdom played 'Aladdin' at the London
Palladium in 1957, the decline of the Principal Boy began. However, when Cilla Black
played the role in 1971, once again the trend was reversed.

The fashion for ladies playing the 'Breeches
Parts' as they were known was established in the eighteenth century. Peg Woffington was a
popular figure in male roles at the time, and the influence of the 'Breeches Roles' in
Opera made the convention a popular one - characters like Cherubino, for example in 'The
Marriage of Figaro'. The first Pantomime principal boy was in 1819, when Eliza Povey
played 'Jack' at Drury Lane, but the convention did not take hold fully until the 1880's.

The Victorian and Edwardian audiences were not
accustomed to viewing the legs of a pretty actress, especially in an era when even piano
legs were cloaked for modesty's sake! However, in a male or 'Breeches' role, the actresses
were allowed to display as much leg as they dared, increasing the popularity of the
pantomime. Audiences would compare which actress had 'The best legs in the business'. Soon
the tunic replaced the breeches, and by the 1930's the tradition was at its height. A
'Boy' in pantomime always meant an actress, one who did not impersonate a man, but who
retained her femininity in the role, wore short and flattering costumes, and could draw
attention to her legs by giving them the occasional heart slap on each entrance.

The role call of 'Boys' is endless, but from the
Edwardian age the names of Florrie Forde, Clarice Mayne and Dorothy Ward remain the most
remembered. Later famous Principal Boys include Evelyn Laye, Adele Dixon, Noele Gordon and
Pat Kirkwood.

Recent times have witnessed the role played by
Barbara Windsor, Rula Lenska, Loraine Chase, Su Pollard, joined by Bonnie Langford,
'Vogue' from the Gladiators, Lisa Riley and Sonya.

Dick Whittington - 1932 Garrick
Theatre, London

Footage of Dorothy Dickson as Dick Whittington

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